Renault plans to put 1.5m e-cars on the road by 2016


10 Feb 2011

Renault is aiming to sell 1.5m electric vehicles (EVs) by 2016, the company said in revealing its six-year strategy.

Renault’s sustainability strategy, ‘Drive the Change’ intends to concentrate on EVs and a new generation of low-emissions engines. It hopes to sell more than 3m vehicles in 2013.

Renault announced that as part of an alliance with Nissan, it will be introducing three electric models, Fluence Z.E., Kangoo Z.E. and Twizy, as part of its strategy to reduce emissions. The group will introduce the Zoe supermini in 2012. The alliance aspires to achieve a production capacity of 500,000 vehicles by 2015, and they attempt to have 1.5m EVs on the road by 2016.

Chairman and CEO of Renault, Carlos Ghosn, stated, “The success of Renault 2016 – Drive the Change relies on the mobilisation and engagement of the men and women of Renault throughout the world.”

Renault also announced its innovation of combustion engines will include its new 1.6-engine “Energy dCi 130”, which will cut CO2 emissions by 20pc compared with the previous generation. Renault’s new Energy TCe gasoline engines will reduce CO2 emissions among vehicles in the A, B and C segments by an estimated 30pc. These innovations will assist in the reduction of CO2 emissions with Renault’s range in Europe emitting on average less than 120g by 2013, and less than 100g by 2016 with EVs.

Ghosn cited, “a sustainable Renault in line with the energy and environmental challenges of the 21st century.”